EMI gasket

Abstract

A gasket for use with an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding cage for a connector includes a conductive body having an opening configured to receive a first end of the EMI shielding cage near a gasket mating wall incorporated on the EMI shielding cage. The conductive body has a first face designed to face away from the gasket mating wall, a second face designed to face the gasket mating wall, an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter. A plurality of engagement tabs are disposed along the outer perimeter and extend away from the first face. A plurality of spring tabs are disposed along the inner perimeter and extend away from the second face. When the first end of the EMI shielding cage is inserted into the opening of the conductive body and an opening of an optional complementary faceplate with the engagement tabs facing the faceplate and the spring tabs facing the gasket mating wall of the EMI shielding cage, the engagement tabs and the spring tabs cooperatively maintain a predefined separation distance D 1 between the gasket mating wall and the optional complementary faceplate.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A gasket for use with an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding cage for a connector, the gasket comprising:
 a conductive body having an opening configured to receive a first end of the EMI shielding cage near a gasket mating wall incorporated on the EMI shielding cage, wherein the conductive body comprises a first face designed to face away from the gasket mating wall, a second face designed to face the gasket mating wall, an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter; 
 a plurality of engagement tabs disposed along the outer perimeter and extending away from the first face; and 
 a plurality of spring tabs disposed along the inner perimeter and extending away from the second face wherein when the first end of the EMI shielding cage is inserted into the opening of the conductive body and an opening of an optional complementary faceplate with the engagement tabs facing the faceplate and the spring tabs facing the gasket mating wall of the EMI shielding cage, the engagement tabs and the spring tabs cooperatively maintain a predefined separation distance D 1  between the gasket mating wall and the optional complementary faceplate. 
 
     
     
       2. The gasket of  claim 1  wherein the spring tab further comprises a first section configured to couple the spring tab to the gasket, a second section configured to be in contact with the gasket mating wall when in use and a kink connecting the first section to the second section. 
     
     
       3. An electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding cage assembly comprising:
 an EMI shielding cage comprising a housing having a top panel, a back panel, two side panels and at least one slot configured at a first end of the EMI shielding cage providing an enclosure for EMI shielding for at least one connector when in use; 
 
       a gasket for use with the EMI shielding cage, the gasket comprising:
 a conductive body having an opening configured to receive the first end of the EMI shielding cage near a gasket mating wall incorporated on the EMI shielding cage, wherein the conductive body comprises a first face designed to face away from the gasket mating wall, a second face designed to face the gasket mating wall, an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter; 
 a plurality of engagement tabs disposed along the outer perimeter and extending away from the first face; and 
 a plurality of spring tabs disposed along the inner perimeter and extending away from the second face wherein when the first end of the EMI shielding cage is inserted into the opening of the conductive body and an opening of an optional complementary faceplate with the engagement tabs facing the faceplate and the spring tabs facing the gasket mating wall of the EMI shielding cage, the engagement tabs and the spring tabs cooperatively maintain a predefined separation distance D 1  between the gasket mating wall and the optional complementary faceplate.